This, ladies and gentlemen, marks a very disturbing episode in our nation’s history.

President Obama has all but declared war on the Second Amendment — taking weapons out of the hands of law-abiding citizens while doing nothing to take them away from criminals.

Texas and Mississippi are now promising to defy these new federal rules – and I’m sure other states will do the same. The consequences of their defiance remain unclear.

“The Second Amendment is non-negotiable,” Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-KS) said. “Taking away the rights and abilities of law-abiding citizens to defend themselves is yet another display of the Obama Administration’s consolidation of power.”

We are now entering uncharted waters as a nation.

The National Rifle Association unveiled a powerful advertisement calling the president an “elitist hypocrite.”

“Are the president’s kids more important than yours?” the ad asks. “Then why is he skeptical about putting armed security in our schools when his kids are protected by armed guards at their schools?”